My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and staring eagerly at the cake with wide

is

a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into the

stopped her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you

hearing that, the head of the group, which happened to be a

must sing the ‘Happy

Rachel must close her eyes

blow out

that there was no need to

the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice

her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t

wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the

to say thank you!” their

other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and the

light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for

continued, “The most important thing right

as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point,

he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting

she turned and headed

inside her apartment

slam, the door was propped open by a

made all the more grotesque

out on

he slid sideways into the house and shut the door

been getting

two steps back.

he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto

as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin

he approached her, forcing her back inch

no idea what she did

arm and pulled, she staggered after him and